The Canadian HM-8 Replica Project
by
- 2004
August 4
Today, we have VIPs with us. Our
visitors are Patrick Campbell and Richard Plante, the 2 Blériot
builders of the Heritage
They work with our team all day
long. They are for us a real help.
It is easy to see at first glance that they are accurate builders. They know
what they are doing.
We install again the wing on the cabane,
take some pictures on the parkway and make the weight and balance.
We see with pleasure that the centre of gravity is in the limits given by the
airfoil.
As the engine is not as heavy as
most of the prewar engine, we will have to move the wing 6 inches to the rear,
the corresponding holes to fit the long bolt were already drilled in the cabane
horizontal member, as shown in Mignet's book.
For static display or in case of
heavier engine the wing will be placed back in the foremost position.
- 2004
August 7
Paul Fournier and Jean-Pierre Gagnon convince me to go with them to deliver
and assemble the HM-8. Gerry will also try to fly to Brodhead in the same
time. All a moving! We will leave
Tuesday in the afternoon as soon as the plane is loaded in the truck.
Jean-Pierre is in charge of doing a perfect loading and the driver considers
this trip as a personal problem. Everything should be fine and we should
arrive in Brodhead Wednesday afternoon. André Saint-Pierre, the president of
the Louiseville flying club volunteered to go with the driver. Very delicate
thought from him that we appreciate.
- 2004 August 9
A call from Jean-Pierre. They
worked all day long on the HM-8, installed the windshield and prepared
everything for the TV (History channel) interview tomorrow morning before
leaving for the States.
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-
2004 August 10
Jean-Pierre Gagnon
and Paul Fournier pick me up early morning at a gas station between
Louiseville and
The
HM-8 is ready in the hangar.
Three
guys of the History Channel arrive about
They
make a very conscientious interview and film the HM-8 from every angle
till
Then
we all have a drink offered by André Létourneau and eat lunch
altogether.
Exactly
as planned, the truck arrives at
André
Saint-Pierre, the Louiseville Club president is in the right seat.
Jean-Pierre,
Paul and I leave soon after in Jean-Pierre's Focus.
-
2004 August 11.
After a good night with a snoring contest in a motel and an uneventful drive*, we arrive in Brodhead late in the evening.
* Except that Paul Fournier, who owns a small apple orchard had daringly brought with him 4 of his apples. He was solemnly explained by the customs officer that no fruit can be imported to the States without labelling and proper documents.
The
trucker, on his cell phone, told us that he had to wait 3 hours, but for no
special reason.
The
HMS staff is waiting for us and we have a superb American dinner in the best
restaurant of Brodhead. Gerry, arrived earlier in his car, is also present.
Then
we go to sleep, dead tired!
-
2004 August 12
Maurice, the truck driver, had told us: "I will unload first thing in the
morning". So, we all arrive at
The
driver let the back door of the truck down. Everything is in order. We heave a
sigh of relief and the HMS staff scrutinizes the inside of the truck to see
"their" HM-8.
Unloading
and unpacking take less than one hour. We carefully check that nothing
suffered from the transport. Maurice, who was hoping to stay a few hours with
us, receives a call from his boss. He has to go immediately to
We
let him go with our thanks for his kindness and his professionalism.
Assembling
starts. Jean-Pierre and Paul had brought their tools with them and they know
exactly what they have to do. Placing the wing on the cabane,
installing the strut cables, readjusting and rechecking everything takes a
part of the day.
The
look of the gas line installed in
While
Jean-Pierre drives full speed on the runway with his car, Paul calibrates the
beautiful ÉTÉVÉ (vintage speed indicator) fixed at the tip of a long pole
through the car window.
Gerry
installs the missing tubing needed to lubricate the valves.
No
time for lunch, but HMS had thought of everything and an improvised buffet
appeases our appetite.
At
about
We
are ready for the first taxi (and, who knows, a short leap). The tank is given
a last rinse and filled up.
Gerry
expertly hand props the engine. Jean-Pierre is at the controls in the cockpit.
The
engine starts up first time and purrs beautifully.
Ready
for a fast taxi! Unfortunately, smoke comes from the exhaust and Jean-Pierre
has to stop the engine. The valve lubrication is too important. Gerry lessens
the oil flow by crushing the tuning, but it is not enough and a special
adjustment will be needed. For today, we have to content ourselves with short
taxies which nevertheless show the perfect behaviour of the plane.
Altogether
this day is very satisfactory.
I am lucky enough to drive Jim's Maserati, a lifetime experience and we all have a ride on HMS's Model T Ford.
A goblet of Champagne closes this hard day of work in the most magnificent manner and, after a last look at "our" HM-8, we all leave the hangar for a good dinner and a good night of sleep.
Before
we drive back home the next morning, still tired but so happy, we receive from
HMS the following testimony which will stay in our memory forever:
"Many
thanks for your countless hours of dedication and expert workmanship in the
pursuit of our mutual dream.
Your
labor of love has fostered the rebirth of an important participant in aviation
history, Henri Mignet's glorious HM-8. But ours is built for the first time
ever in
In
the years to come, many will gaze upon your creation and experience first-hand
the same excitement that must have been felt by all who challenged the skies
of
You
are truly his descendants, creating a-new this beautiful Avionnette which will
break the shackles of gravity and soar with its sisters over the skies of a
new world, an ocean distant from its predecessors, but inseparable in spirit
with them."
(Page 11 of 14)